Door-silencer



G. R. DAMIANI.

DOOR SILENCER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, I92I.

Patented Nov. 8, 192L 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTv OFFICE.

GODFREY R. DAMIANI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DOOR-SILENGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application led February 25, 1921. Serial Nq. 447,647.

silencers wherein the noise incident to the closing of doors is eliminated by a member having spring means adapted to yieldingly engage a second member.

The objects of my invention are- First, to provide a door silencer that will eliminate the noises incident to the closing of a door without subjecting the door hinges to any destructive strains;

Second, to provide a door silencer that is substantially concealed when the door is closed;

Third, to provide a door silencer which functions by `means of co-acting members adapted to frictionally engageeach other, at least one of the members having spring means adapted to yield when engaged by the other member, and arranged to constantly exert its pressure upon the other member when the door is closed; and

Fourth, to provide a device of the class described comprising co-acting members, one of which is yieldingly held against the other, but not locked thereto when the door is'closed, and means whereby the pressure exerted Vby the yielding member may be lessened when the door is to be opened.

These and other objects of my invention,

will be more clearly pointed out as the following description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation partially in section, of a door and door frame', a door silencer embodying the novel features of my invention having been applied thereto;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections taken onlines 2f2 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

and or frame, a modified form of my improved door silencer being shown in connec- Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of la door are pivotal of the door to which one member of the modifiedform of my device is secured;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sections taken on lines 6 6 and 7-7 respectively of Fig. 4, looking 1n the direction of the arrows;

Flg. 8 is a section taken through a door and door frame on a line similar to that on which Fig. 7 is taken, and illustrates a further modiication of my improved door silencer; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9 9 of F 1g.- 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar characters of reference indicate slmilar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. l, the reference characters 10 and 11 designate a door and its associated door` frame respectively, that portion of the door belng shown in which a latch is usually disposed. The door and door frame have secured to each of them one of a plurality of members of which my improved door silencer consists. lThe member secured to the door 10 -is indicated at 12, and the member secured to the frame 11 is indicated at 13.

As shown in Fig. l, the door member 12 comprises a casing 14, inserted into the door, a wall 15- of the casing being disposed substantially flushv with the face of the free end of the door.' Pivotally mounted upon a pin 16, rigidly secured to the wall 15, are a plurality of levers 17 and 18. The levers 17 and 18 are disposed to oscillate in a plane substantially parallel to the wall 15,. Each of the levers 17 and 18 has a rearwardly eX- tending arm, 17 and 18a respectively, and a forwardlyextending arm, 17b and 18b respectively. l'The arms 17b and 18b are bent into a semicircular form, the concave faces of the arms being arranofed. to face each other. A spring 19 interposed between the arms 17h and 18b tends to rotate these arms in opposite directions about the pin 16, the arms 17a and 1811 a preaching each other at the same time. hen the door is open, this movement of the levers 17 and 18 is limited by a pair of fingers 20 and 21, which are interposed between the arms 17a and 18, each of the fingers 2O and 21 bein formed integrally with one of a pair of evers, 22 and 23 res actively. The levers 22 and 23 'mounted upon a pin 24 rigidly secured in t e casing 14. The levers 22 and 23 are disposed to oscillate in a plane substantially normal to the plane in which the levers 17 and 18 are similarIy disposed. The

levers 22 and 23 have inwardly extending arms 25 and 26 respectively, the inner ends of which are held a ainst the periphery of a cam 28, by means o a pair of springs 29-29 secured in the casing 14.

The cam 28 is rigidly secured to a shaft 30 journaled in the casing 14. The shaft 30 passes through the door and has secured to each of its ends a door knob, one of which is indicated at 31. It is apparent that if the cam be rotated in either direction to an angle of 900, the lingers 20 and 21 of the levers 22 and 23 will displace the levers 17 and 18 relatively to each other and cause the arms 17 and 18b to move toward each other, thus compressing the spring' 19. To hold the cam in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, I provide a lever 33 rigidlysecured to the shaft 30. A tension sprin 34 has one end fastened to a pin 35 proJecting from the outer end of the lever 33, and the other end secured to the pin 24. A pair of stops' 33a33a adapted to co-act with the lever 33 limit the angular displacement of the. cam, thereby preventing injury to the spring 34. It is readily understood that the angular displacement in either direction of the cam by means of either door knob will cause the arms 17b and 18b to move toward each other, and that subsequent release of the door knob will permit the arms to be forced apart by the spring 19. These arms are thus adapted to engage coperating means secured in the door frame, and thereby yieldingly resist any displacement of the door relative to the frame.

I will now describe the coperating'means secured in the door frame, these means consisting of the member 12. The member 12 comprises a casing 36 inserted into and secured to the door frame 11, a wall 37 of the casing 36 being disposed parallel to and substantlally contiguous to the wall 15 of the casing 14, when the door is closed. AnK

aperture 36a in the casing 36 permits the levers 17 and 18 to enter the casing when the door is being closed. Secured to each of the upper and lower walls of the casing 36 is a block 38 of resilient material, preferably rubber. The opposing faces of the blocks 38-38 are substantially parallel to the path in which the door swings. These faces are arranged to engage the convex surfaces of the arms 17b and 18b when the levers 17 and 18 enter the casing 36. The frictional resistance of the blocks 17 and 18 will retard the displacementl of the door when it is being closed, and thus eliminate undue noise. To facilitate the entrance of the levers 17 and 18 into the space between the blocks, I round the outer corners of the blocks as at 39-.-39. lA resilient step is provided for limiting the inward movement of the door and to prevent the levers 17 and 18 from passing beyond the blocks 38-38.

.cured -to the casing 36.

Y The resilient stop comprises a ,plate 40 slidably mounted in the casing 36. The plate 40 is secured to a plurality of pins 41, slidably journaled in a bearing block 42, se-

A compression spring 43 is disposed around each of the pins 41, and is interposed between the block 42 and the plate 40. A strip 44 of resilient material is secured to the outer face of the plate 40, and is so positioned that it will engage the forward ends of the arms 17a and 18a when the door is forced into a closed position.

In the operation of the device, the door may be easily opened by simply turning either of the knobs until the lever 33 rests against one of the stops 33a-33a. The arms 17 b and 18h will then be withdrawn from the blocks 38-38 by means of the levers 22 and 23. The described structure will then offer no resistance to relative displacement between the door and frame in a proper direction.

In Fig. 2, `I have indicated the direction in which the door opens by means of an arrow 45. The act of closing the door will occasion no noise, as the resilient blocks 38-38 engage the levers 17 and 18'and yieldingly resist the movement of the door until 1t is finally forced against the resilient stop comprising the plate 40.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, I have illustrated a modified form of my device, wherein a block 48 of resilient material is rigidly sel cured to the face of the free end of a ldoor 49. (Figs. 5 and 6.) To so secure the block 48 to the door, a plate 50, of comparativelyV rigid material, is secured to the door 49, and in turn the plate has secured to it a block 48. A flange 51, formed integrally with the plate 50, aids in retaining the resilient block 48 in its position upon the door. The block 48 is arranged to project from the door in the same manner as the usual latch, and in a similar position.

The block 48 is adapted to coperate with a member secured in a door frame 53, in which the door 49 may be suitably secured by the usual hinges. (Not shown.) This member comprises a casing 54, inserted into H the door frame, and having a wall flush with the inner face of the frame which is contiguous to the face of the free end of the door when the door is closed. The casing 54 is apertured as at 55 to permit the block 48 to enter into it. Disposed within the casing 54 are a plurality of plates 56, 57 and 58. Each of the plates is secured to a plurality of pins 59, slidably journaled in a plurality of bearing blocks 60, which are rigidly secured to the casing 54. Each plate has secured to it astrip 61 of some resilient material. Disposed around each of the pins 59, and interposed between its respective bearing block and its associated plate, is a compression spring 62. The springs 62 yiel'dingly position the plates 56 and 57, so that the strips 61 carrled by these plates may lengage the block48 as it enters the casing, 54 when the door is being closed. Referring to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the outer ends of the plates 56 and 57 are bent away from each otherA to facilitate the entrance of the block 48 into the space between these plates. A s the block forces its way betweenthe plates 56 and 57, the associated springs 62 yield, and the block finally rests against the strip 61 secured to the plate 58, the springs 62 associated with this plate also yield to take up the momentum o the door.

To further lessen the noise attendant to the closingof--the door, I provide a leaf spring 65 disposed in and secured to the casing 54. The spring 65 is adapted to contact thevouter side of the block 48 and to yieldingly resist its advance into the casing 54. I v

The door 49 is provided with a pair of doorknobs, one of which is shown at 66. The door knobs 66 are merely employed as means for opening and closing the door, as they do not actuate any of the mechanism of the described door silencer.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a further modiication of my invention, and in these views the door and frame are designated by the reference characters 70 and 71 respectively. The door is provided with a latch member 72, slidably mounted in a casing 73, which is inserted into ythe free end of the door 70. A plurality of springs 74 interposed between the latch 72 and the casing 73 yieldingly force the latch 72 in an outward directlon away from the hinged en d of the door, and cause it to project beyond the face of the free end of the door when the door is open. The latch 72 has a downwardly extending lug 75, which is adapted to be en aged by the cam 76, secured upon a shaft 7. The shaft 77 is rotatably journaled in the door 70 and the casing 73. As shown in Fig. 9, the cam is designed to permit an outward movement of the latch, but to also limit this movement. The purpose of this construction will presently appear. To normally hold the cam 76 in its illustrated position, I provide a lever 78 rigidly secured to the shaft 77. A tension spring79 has one end fastened to a pin 80, projecting from the lever 78, and the other end fastened to a pin 81 secured to the casing 73. It is ap.

parent that if the shaft be rotated in either direction, the cam 76 will ride against the lug anddraw the latch inwardly to a position within the ,casing 73. A. pair of door knobs 82-82 are provided for this purpose. 4The outer end of the latch has an enlarged head portion 72*l and is adapted to co-act with a member 84 Secured to and disposed in the door frame 71. The member 84 comprises a casing 85, in which a plurality of plates 86 and 87 are disposed. The plates 86 and 87 are adapted to engage respectively the outer end and one of the sides of the head portion 72a. The plates are secured to a plurality of pins 88 slidably journaled in bearing blocks 89. Compression springs 90 disposed around the pins 88 and interposed between their respective plates and blocks, urge resilient strips 92, carried by the plates, against the head 72a when the door is closed. A casing 85 is apertured at 93, so that the head 72el may projectinto the' casing 73. When the door is being closed, the resilient strip 92 of the plate 86 will engage the outer end of the head 72El of the latch 77 and yieldingly resist the displacement of the door relative to the frame. The plate 87 is ada ted to function as aA resilient stop. When t e door is to be opened, the latch may be withdrawn from engagement with the resilient strip 92 of the plate 86 by turning the door knobs 82-82, which will actuate the cam 76. The door may then be easily opened without pulling it against any frictionalresistance 'except that of the hinges.

While I have thusdescribed the details of several forms of my invention, it is to be understood that I am no t limited to these details except by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a doorvand door frame of a door silencer consisting of two members, the door and frame having a member secured to each ofthem, one member having spring means for frictionally engaging the other member, the spring means beling adapted to exert pressure upon the other member when the door is closed, and means for lessening the pressure prior to opening the door.`

2. The combination with a door and door frame of a door silencer consisting of two members, the door and frame having one of the members secured to each of them, one of the members havingspring means forexi' erting pressure upon the other member when the door is closed, the two members being adapted to frictionally engage each other, and means for lessening the pressure prior to opening the door.

3. The combination with a door and door frame of a door silencer consisting of two members, the door and frame having one of the 'members secured to each of them, the members being adapted to frictionally engage each other when the door is closed, and means for displacing one of the members elatively to the other prior to opening the oor.

4. The combination with a door and door frame of a door` silencer consisting of two the members secured to each of them, one of the'members comprising a pair of pivotally mounted levers, and means for yieldingly forcing the levers against the other member.

`5. The combination with a door and door frame of a door silencer consisting of two members, the door and frame having one of the members secured to each of them, one of the members comprising a pivotally mounted lever, vmeans for yieldingly forcing the lever against the other member when the members are being displaced relatively lto each other, and means for withdrawing the lever from contact with the other member` when the door is `to be opened.

6. The combination with a door and door frame of a door silencer comprising al pad of resilient material carried by one of the aforesaid members, -a pivotally mounted lever carried by the other member, spring means for forcing the lever against the pad, and means for moving said lever in opposition to lsaid spring means prior to opening the door.

7. The combination with a door and door frame of a device of the class described comprising a member having a pivotally mounted lever, a second member, means for'yieldingly forcing the lever against the second member, the force being exerted when the door is closed in the direction of a line lying in the plane in which the door is disposed.

8. The combination with a door .and door frame of a door silencer consisting of two members, the door and door frame having one of the members secured to each of them, the members being adapted tok frictionally engage each other, one of the contacting surfaces having a pad of resilient material, and

means for disengaging the members when members, the door and frame having one of--thefloor is to be opened, the means comprising a handle securedto the door.

9. The combination with a door and door frame of a door silencer consisting of two members, the door and frame having one of themembers secured to each of them, the members being adapted to yieldingly resist the relative displacement of the door and frame when the door is bein closed, the frame' member having a resilient stop for limiting the displacement of the door relative to the y.frame in one direction, the resilient stop comprising a plate and spring means for forcing the plate against the door member. y

l0. The combination with a door and door` frame fof a silencer comprising a door carried element and a vframe carried element, said door carried element comprising a wedge member which projects from the free edge of the door, the frame carried element comprising a pair of opposed yielding members between which the wedge member lies when'thedoor is in closed position, said op posed yielding members adapted to exert vertically directed pressure upon said wedge member when the door is in closed position, together with a third yielding member forming art 'of the frame carried element, said third yielding member being engaged by the wedge member when the door is in closed position and exerting a horizontally directed pressure upon said wedge member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of February, 1921.

GODFREY R. DAMIANI. Witnesses:

ALBIN C. AHLBERG, ARTHUR W. CARLSON. 

